The emphasis on bean and legume-based proteins is heavy in old cuisines like Indian and Mediterranean. In this, the place for chickpeas is even more predominant. The black, the green or white, chickpea seems to provide that protein satisfaction to the meal otherwise rich in grains and vegetables. Use it soaked, sprouted, ground to paste, powdered, boiled or baked, we always make room for a bit of chickpea on our fork each time. This just brings us to the point that it is no wonder chole masala is the most searched Indian recipe ever.
When it comes to recipes as with chickpea, Indian household have plenty for you. Very often we rely on a stirfry with chickpea for a quick salad or side to our meals. This also doubles up as out go-to snack with a cup of chai. Now, that leads us to today’s recipe -gugillu, cooked chickpea with tempered spices, curry leaves and fragrant coriander leaves.
Gugillu or sundal
Gugillu and sundal are very similar recipes. I love to call my kondakadali sundal as guggillu as that us how I learnt it. The recipe comes from a former neighbour in Bangalore, who religiously made this recipe for every festival. Ever since I always call it guggillu. Secretly, I think it gives a bit fancier name when I say gugillu than say usual sundal. To be honest I make this a tad bit spicier than the other sundals and with a touch of lemon.
Making it fancier
I love serving this recipe for a quick get together with friends as a filling for the lettuce cups. It kind of add to the fun element.
Make it ahead
This chickpea stirfry stays well in the fridge for a week. So that us one great Saturday-Sunday meal prep to do without a huge effort.
More chickpea recipes
- rice pakora
- steamed chickpea salad
- Beetroot besan cheela
- Chilka roti
- channa dal khatta
- sooka kala channa sabji
I am sure you are planning to make a chickpea week. Here are some yo uh want to add up
Sooka kale channa sabzi
Steamed chickpea salad
Creamy Channa Dal Khatta
If you have soaked and ground the chickpeas, you can make
Chilka roti
With besan/ chickpea flour here are some yummies
Pakoda leeks
Beetroot cheela – savory chickpea pancake
Rice pakora
Chickpea surely is a very versatile ingredient and finds it way easily into many vegan vegetarian recipes. It is the protein content that attracts us all to it. So savour it and let us know how you use chickpeas. For this recipe scroll down and also le save us a comment on how you like this recipe.
Stay safe and get enough protein for the day.

Guggillu - chickpea sundal
Ingredients
to cook the chickpeas
- 1 cup chickpea
- 4 cups drinking water
- 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
- salt to taste
for the tempered spices
- 1 tsp coconut oil
- 1 tsp mustard seeds
- 1 tsp Urad Dal
- 1-2 medium red chilli
- 1-2 medium green chilli slit
- 1/2 tsp fresh ginger root grated
- 10-12 curry leaves
- 2-3 tbsp coconut sliced thin
- 1-2 tbsp almonds silvered
garnishing
- 1 tbsp coriander leaves chopped small
- 3 tbsp Lemon juice
Instructions
- Wash and soak the chickpeas for 6 hours
- Pressure cook the soaked chickpeas with salt and turmeric for 4-6 whistles
- Allow the pressure to release naturally and then drain the excess liquid from the cooked chickpea.
- If starting with canned chickpea start here with the drained chickpeas.
- Meanwhile, in a pan add the oil and bring it to medium heat.
- Add the mustard seeds and urad dal, when the mustard seeds splutter add the green chilli, ginger, curry leaves, red chillies.
- Let it roast welland add the coconut slices and silvered almonds and let them roast in the pan as well.
- Now add the cooked chickpeas.
- Add the lemon juice and coriander leaves and stir fry for a couple of minutes
- Remove to a serving bowl and serve hot.
Protein power packed chickpeas sundal recipe is very easy to make, is nutritious and tastes amazing too with coconut . You have explained it very well.
This is such a nutritious and delicious legume based dish. I love anything with chickpeas and this is one of my traditional protein packed favorite.
Delicious and healthy at the same time. Handful ingredients and simple recipe, chickpea sundal is awesome. Amazing post indeed.
A lovely way to enjoy the full nutritional benefits of chickpeas, in a healthy and flavorful way. Love this recipe and definitely bookmarking to try it out. Ideal snack option
Love chickpeas Sundal!guggillu is a new name for me! But has quite a ring to to 😁 a delicious protein packed snack!
I personally love chickpea sundal.. It is a protein packed nutritious recipe. Perfect healthy snacking idea
I personally love chickpea sundal.. It is a protein packed nutritious recipe. Perfect flavorful healthy snacking idea… Love your suggestions of addition of onions
“Sundal” in lettuce cups sounds so much fun – something my little one would love for a fancy snack… I too love this with EXTRA spice (ginger n chillies) and a generous dash of lemon..
I am glad you like a couple of different ideas on this post. Yes I like this sundal a bit over the top than compared to other versions.
Delicious protein rich and healthy snack. Sundal always bring back Chennai Marina beach memories and also during Ganpathi festival. We also used to keep Puliyar for a day and make sundal.
This looks so tempting. I love protein rich chickpeas so it’s lovely to see a new recipe to try. I also love the addition of coconut and almond slices to the sundal.
Seema, we don’t consume chickpeas during Navratri fasting, but I did try this easy and delicious recipe out a few days ago. We enjoyed Guggillu as a snack. Loved the different textures and flavours especially because of the coconut and almonds.
As a part of diverse Indian customs to celebrate the same festival, we all have different recipes to rely on. Coming to the south Sundal is a must-have during this season and at other times doubles up as a snack or side. I am glad it came in handy for you as a snack.
Chickpea sundal sounds so good. It has been a long time I have made this one, next time I will make with your recipe using coconut oil.
This Guggillu chickpea Sundal looks flavorful and suits my spicy palate. During Navratri when I visit my neighbor’s, I love the Sundal that she makes. But now on, since I have authentic well explained Sundal recipe on this blog, I will try it at home.
Guggilu in lettuce cups – now that’s a fab idea seema.. sundal looks awesome with almond slivers…
Adding badams to chickpea sundal sounds so exotic.loved the name guggilu. Hearing it for the first time 🙂